My boyfriend and I have been dating for over five years. We met my sophomore year of high school, and he was a senior. We went to different high schools but saw each other pretty often. When he graduated and went away to college in Boston, we decided to keep dating and have a long distance relationship. And we've been doing it ever since! There have been some hard times, but there have also been some amazing times. I am so thankful for all of it because it taught us so much about ourselves and each other. These are some things that I have learned throughout our journey together.

1. Communication is key

Communication is so important in every relationship, whether it be romantic, friendship, or even between family members. Of course, there are days where we don't get to talk much, but on those days, we communicate to the other that we may not be available. Sometimes it is hard to let the other person know especially when it's a busy or stressful day, but we make it work and don't hold grudges when it happens.

2. Waiting to see him is totally worth it.

I usually get to see my boyfriend at least once a month, sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less. Those few weeks when we are apart aren't awful, but everything is better when we are together. When I finally get to see him, it's like we were never apart. I appreciate the time I get to spend with him, even if we end up cuddling for the majority of it! In this time we get to joke around with each other in a way that we can't do over the phone or on Skype.

3. Honesty is the best policy

This kind of goes hand in hand with communication, but if I am upset about something that he did or didn't do, I'm going to tell him. Every relationship has its problems. In order to fix those problems, you have to be honest with yourself and tell him that what he did that bothered or annoyed you. He is not afraid to tell me when I'm being too dramatic or overthinking too much. Since we are so honest with each other, we have a respect for each other that helps us grow and become better people.

4. We are not the same people we once were

One of the great things about being in a relationship for so long is that we have seen each other go through challenges and grow from it. We have changed in different ways, but have grown together and become even closer. Change can be a scary thing, especially when someone you love is changing, but we were there for each other through it all. When he grew, I grew a bit too. I'm glad I'm not the same person I was five years ago, and I'm glad he's not the same person he was five years ago either! Life is all about learning and growing, and relationship should help the individuals blossom.

5. He knows me better than I know myself

When you're really close to someone, they pick up on things that you didn't even realize you were doing or felt. He knows when I get frustrated when I'm anxious, or sad. It's amazing that even when we're on the phone with each other, he can tell when something is wrong. He just knows! Even if I try to hide it or deny it, he will pull it out of me until I tell him what's bothering me. After I finally tell him, he's always so understanding and loving. He challenges me to look inside myself and figure out what's wrong and is there to listen when I figure it out. I'm so thankful for it.

6. He's definitely the one

I know it sounds cliche and I'm still so young, but our connection is unlike any other! He's my best friend, I tell him everything. And even though we are almost inseparable when we are together, we are very much our own person. There are some things that we have in common, like religious beliefs, morals, sense of humor, and sometimes taste in music. But we also have different interests and hobbies. Since we have such different interests, I get to learn about what he loves, and he gets to learn about what I love! It allows us to continue to learn about one other and connect with each other.

Every day I find a new reason to love him even more. I am so thankful that he is a part of my life. He has changed me for the better in so many ways. There are no words to describe how much I love him and how much he means to me. Relationships are hard, but when you find the right person, it's worth all of the lows for all of the highs.